Renegade Millionaire by Kristi Gold Page B

Madrid.” He paced with his back to Joanna. After a time, he said, “Okay, I’m on my way.”
    He replaced his phone on the charger and turned. “I’ve got to go into the hospital.”
    Already she was missing him, and she hated that. “I thought you weren’t on call.”
    â€œI’m not, but this is a special case. First baby. She’s sixteen, scared. Her boyfriend didn’t stick around. She wants me to deliver.”
    Her admiration for him increased more than she thought possible. “I guess she needs you.”
    â€œYeah. Nice to know someone does now and then.” He sounded almost sad, as alone as Joanna felt much of the time.
    He stopped in the doorway. “Make yourself at home. There’s a casserole in the fridge you can heat up for dinner. My housekeeper left it for me.”
    â€œI’ll make do.” She needed to say something, but she wasn’t sure what. “Rio?” The word rolled easily off her tongue.
    His smile appeared, slowly. A satisfied smile. “Yeah?”
    â€œSince this is a first baby, you might be a while, so I just wanted to say good-night and thanks for everything. I hope you get some sleep.”
    He braced one hip against the door frame and released a mirthless laugh. “Sleep? Not in a million years.”

Five
    J oanna couldn’t sleep. Maybe it was the strange house, the strange bed, the knowledge that she was all alone again.
    Since retiring for the night, she had listened carefully for the sound of Rio’s return but hadn’t heard a thing, even from Gabby who was still outside, as far as she knew. Of course, Gabby didn’t strike her as being much of a watchdog.
    Joanna had gone to her room following a meager dinner of tuna casserole and an hour spent watching some inane sitcom. Now she sat in bed and tried to read materials to prepare for a continuing-education course she was due to take in the spring. She quickly abandoned that for a glitzy magazine heralding the breakups of rich and indulgent celebrities. Tiring of that, she tossed the magazine aside and stared at the ceiling.
    Maybe if she took another shower, she might relax.A hot bath… The hot tub? Well, that was an option. Since Rio was gone, she could hide away in there without notice. But what if he came home? Gabby would warn her, hopefully giving her enough time to sneak back inside.
    Joanna rose from the bed and rummaged in the dresser for the only swimsuit she owned. It was black, basic, the only thing daring about it came in the form of sheer netting that covered the midriff but revealed little more than a hint of flesh.
    After donning the suit, she retrieved an oversize towel from the linen closet and padded down the stairs. Just to be on the safe side, she tiptoed to Rio’s room. The door was partially open and it creaked when she gave it a push. Her heart jumped, but thankfully she found the king-size bed still made, its owner absent. She took a chance and snapped on the light for a better look.
    The bedroom was without embellishments, masculine, from the heavy pine bed covered in a black and gold spread to the posh tan carpeting. Several artifacts were set out on the tables in a small sitting area to her right, clay pots of every shape and size, a few polished stones, some small sculptures. On the wall over the black marble fireplace’s mantel hung an odd-looking calendar sporting a moon, stars and the sun. Yet the enticing scent exclusive to Rio appealed to her most of all.
    Feeling nervous over invading his privacy, Joanna retreated out of the room and started down the stairs and into the backyard. The night was moonless, cold, and she almost reconsidered, but she’d already come this far, no use turning back now. After her eyes adjusted to the limited light, she headed for the hot tub, pulling up short a few feet away when she caught sight of the dark, imposing figure cast in shadows spilling across the